Instead of balancing the budget by borrowing money, deferring payment to schools or resorting to any other accounting maneuver, the Senate is proposing to cut spending as much it can, even if it means the current fiscal year ends with the state in the red.

The Arizona Legislature likely will start a special session on Wednesday so lawmakers can consider asking the federal government to allow Arizona to drastically reduce medical coverage for its residents.

Rep. John Kavanagh, who backed this year's ballot measure to sweep hundreds of millions of dollars from a childhood development agency, has a message for an education group that opposed the effort: You don’t kick a hornet’s nest without risking a sting.

Sen. John McComish said he’s got a lot more to offer the Senate than he will be allowed to contribute next year, based on his assessment of the committee assignments that were announced earlier this week.